Never, Ever Give Up 2（5'34）

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And we've been on a journey,

and you know the debate has raged, hasn't it, since the Greeks, of isn't what it's all bout?

Isn't a life about the journey, not really the destination.

And here, we've been on this journey, and the truth is, it's been thrilling.

We haven't reached that other shore, and still, our sense of pride and commitment, unwavering() commitment.

When I turned 60, the dream was still alive, from having tried this in my 20s, and dream it, and imagined it.

The most famous body of water, on the earth today, I imaged , Cuba to Florida.

And it was deep, it was deep in my soul.

And when I turned 60,  what's so much about the athletic accomplishment, it wasn't they pursuit the ego of " I want to be the first."

And that's always there and it's undeniable.

But it was, it was deeper, was how much life is there left?  Let's face it, we're all on a one-way street, aren't we?

And what are we going to do ?

What are we going to do, as we go forward to, have no regrets, looking back.

And all this past year in training, I had that Teddy Roosevelt quote to paraphrase(解释 释义)  it, floating around my brain, and it says," you go ahead."

You go ahead and sit back in your comfortable chair, and you be the critic, you be the observer,

While the brave one, gets in the ring and engages,

and gets bloody, and gets dirty, and fails over and over and over again, but yet isn't afraid and isn't timid(怯懦的 胆怯的) and lives life in a bold way.

And so of course, I want to make it across.

It is the goal, and I should be so shallow to say that this year, the destination was even sweeter than the journey.

But the journey itself was worthwhile taking.

And at this point, by this summer, everybody, scientists, sports scientists, endurance experts, neurologists, my own team, Bonnie, said it's impossible.

It just simply can be done and Bonnie said to me, " But if you'r going to take the journey.

I'm going to see you throug the end of it, so I will be there."

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1. Why was swimming from Cuba to Florida still her dream when she turns her 60?

...she wanted to get the most out of life.

2. Why does Nyad say she is shallow, when she says the destination was sweeter than the journey?

...it contradicts her previous statement about life being a journey.

3. 完形填空

 When I turned 60, it was so much about the athletic accomplishment, it wasn't the ego of" I want to be the first." That's always there and it's undeniable. But it was deeper. It was, how much life is there left?

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And now, we are there.

And as we're looking out, kind of a surreal (离奇的 怪诞的)moment before the first stroke, standing on the rocks at Marina Hemingway,

the Cuban flag is flying above, all my team is out in their boats, hands up in the air," We're here! We're here for you."

Bonnie and I looked each other and we say, this year, the mantra(曼恒罗 咒语) is-- and I've been using it in training, find a way.

You have a dream and you have obstacles in front of you, as we all do.

None of us ever gets through this life without heartache, without turmoil(焦虑 骚乱),

And if you believe and you have faith, and you can get knock down, and get back up again and you believe in perseverance as a great human quality, you find your way. 

And Bonnie grabbed my shoulders, and she said,"  Let's find our way to Florida."

And we started, and for the next 53 hours, it was an intense, unforgettable life experience.

The highs were high, the awe - I'm not a religious person, but I'll tell you.

To be in the azure(天蓝色的 蔚蓝色的) blue of the Gulf Stream, as if, as you're breathing, you're looking  down miles and miles and miles,

to feel the majesty of this blue planet we live on , it's , it's all inspiring.

I have a playlist of about 85 songs, and especially  in the middle of night, and that night, because we use no lights.

Lights attract jellyfish, lights attract shark, lights attract baitfish(饵鱼) that attract sharks, so we go in the pitch black of the night, you never seen black, this black.

You can't see the front of your hand, and that people on the boat, Bonnie and my team on the boat,

They just use the slapping(拍 打) on the arms, and they know where I am, because there is no visual at all.

And I'm out there kind of tripping out(跳出去) my little playlist.

I've got tight rubber caps, I don't hear a thing, I've got goggles and I'm turning my head 50 times a minute, and I'm singing.

Imagine there's no heaven...doo doo doo doo...

It's easy if you try doo doo doo doo...

And I can sing that song a thousand times in a row.

Now there's a talent unto itself.

And each time I get down with...Oh, you may say I've a dream, I'm not the only one...

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Imagine there'e no heaven...

And when I get through the end of a thousand of John Lemon's "Imagine",

I have swum nine hours and 45 minutes...exactly.

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1. How did John Lemon's song "Imagine" help Nyad get through the darkness?

...it inspired her.

2. If someone is perseverant, they will...persist through difficulty.

3. 听 复述

If you're going to take the journey, I'm going to see you through to the end of it.

4. To see somebody through is to help them during a difficult time.

5. Someone who is perseverant(能坚持的 锲而不舍的) will get back up after being knocked down.